Lock
/lɒk/noun
A device for securing a door, lid, or container by means of a bolt or mechanism.
Did you know?The word 'lock' is derived from Old English, where it was associated with confinement and even the idea of a magical barrier against intruders.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*leḱ-
“to be tight or secure”
Old English
Old English
locc
“a fastening or a secure enclosure”
Old Norse
Old Norse
lokkr
“something that binds or fastens”
Middle English
Middle English
lokke
“a bolt or fastening mechanism”
Modern English
English
lock
“a device used to secure an entrance against unauthorized access”